It seems that you're looking for guidance on records management for your research project. Establishing records management policies and procedures can help you:
- Identify record series (groups of records, based usually on the function of the records, e.g. Correspondence or Laboratory Notebooks);
- Identify who is creating records;
- Identify who is responsible for organizing and maintaining records;
- Where multiple copies of a record exist (in the same or different formats), identify the copy of record; and
- Establish a retention schedule (determine how long records should be kept).
A good records management program will help your project demonstrate the authenticity of research data and products, establish intellectual property rights, and satisfy requirements established by funding agencies and legislation (such as open access policies and privacy laws).
A good introduction to the management of research record is JISC's Guidelines on Managing Research Records. It divides research records into four types: records documenting the research process, records documenting research outcomes or products, records documenting the management of the research process/product(s) and research data. It then provides guidance on the management, storage, access, retention and destruction of research records.
Examples of research records management policies include the University of Melbourne's Policy on the Management of Research Data and Records and Barts and the London's Records Management of Research Project Records.
